Undergraduate Degree Types and Requirements

Types of Undergraduate Degrees

Overview of Degree Types

The following table lists the types of undergraduate degrees and certificates offered at Southern Utah University. Please refer to the individual department listings in Programs by College/School  for details on specific programs of study.

Undergraduate credentials available at SUU fall into one of three categories: certificates, associate’s degrees, and baccalaureate degrees (also known as bachelor’s degrees). Depending on the program of study students choose, students will receive one or more of these credentials offered by SUU. For instance, if a student majors in Exercise Science, they will receive a Bachelor of Science degree. If a student majors in English, they will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree. If a student’s degree is in Information Technology, they will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Traditionally, obtaining a baccalaureate degree has required four (4) years or more of full-time study, while obtaining an associate’s degree has usually required two (2) or more years of full-time study. (These timelines are predicted based on an average of 15 credits per semester for two semesters each year.)

This section defines the minimum credit requirements for each degree available at SUU, as well as general policies applying to undergraduate degrees. After reading this section, students should go to All Programs  and Course Descriptions  where they will find specific requirements they must meet in order to obtain a degree.

These additional requirements (known as major requirements) are determined by the department or interdisciplinary program responsible for the degree students wish to obtain. From time to time, as students’ academic work progresses, students are encouraged to review their electronic degree audit (Degree Works) along with relevant sections of the catalog to verify that they are making satisfactory progress toward their academic goals and that they are meeting all the requirements for the degree they seek.

In addition to the information contained in this catalog, students should consult regularly with their Student Success Advisor. Students can use this opportunity to discuss their academic goals and their plans for achieving them. For students who have selected a major, they will work with an advisor in the academic college/school responsible for that major. If a student has not selected a major, they will work with an advisor designated to assist exploratory students.

Associate’s Degrees

Associate of Applied Science

SUU offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. The AAS requires a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 69 semester credit hours.

Candidates for an AAS degree must:

1. Complete a minimum of 60 credit hours but no more than 69 credit hours. A minimum of 24 credits must be completed through SUU.
2. Complete course requirements as outlined by the program degree. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all work completed at SUU, as well as a 2.0 for a combined SUU/transfer overall GPA. Refer to specific programs for GPA requirements in the field of study.
3. Complete a minimum of 9 credit hours in General Education  as specified by the individual program.

Associate of Applied Science in General Technology

SUU offers an Associate of Applied Science in General Technology in conjunction with Southwest Technical College and select other technical colleges in Utah. Students must meet a minimum number of clock hours at the technical college, be dual enrolled with SUU and Southwest Tech or transfer their coursework to SUU, and complete additional semester credit hours to earn the AAS. The AAS requires a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 69 semester credit hours.

Candidates for an AAS in General Technology must:

1. Complete a specified minimum number of clock hours and/or have earned a certificate at the technical college.
2. Complete a minimum of 60 credit hours but no more than 69 credit hours. A minimum of 24 credits must be completed through SUU.
3. Complete course requirements as outlined by the program degree. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all work completed at SUU, as well as a 2.0 for a combined SUU/transfer overall GPA. Refer to specific programs for GPA requirements in the field of study.
4. Complete a minimum of 9 credit hours in General Education  as specified by the individual program.

Associate of Arts/Associate of Science

SUU offers both an Associate of Arts (AA) and an Associate of Science (AS) degree.

Candidates for either degree must:

• Complete a minimum of 60 credit hours. A minimum of 24 credits must be completed through SUU.
• Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all work completed at SUU, as well as a 2.0 for a combined SUU/transfer overall GPA.
• Complete all SUU General Education  requirements.
• Complete all additional required courses, if applicable.

In addition:

• For the AA degree: Complete eight (8) hours of one foreign language beyond the 1010 level. All foreign language classes must be completed with a “C” (2.0) grade or higher.

Bachelor’s Degrees

Common requirements for all bachelor’s degrees include the following:

1. A minimum of 120 semester credit hours in courses numbered 1000-4999;
2. Of the minimum total hours, 40 semester hours must be in upper-division courses (numbered 3000-4999);
3. Minimum GPA requirements for coursework in the major and a minimum GPA of 2.0 overall in work taken at SUU, as well as a combined SUU and transfer GPA. Each major may also have specific GPA requirements;
4. Completion of SUU General Education , major and, where applicable, minor requirements;
5. Candidates for a bachelor’s degree must complete at least 30 credits at SUU or through classes offered by distance education. A minimum of 20 of these credits must be completed in upper-division courses, of which at least 10 credits must be completed in courses required by the student’s major. Each major may have residency requirements in addition to SUU requirements;
6. Completion of specific requirements for one of the bachelor’s degrees offered by the University; and
7. A major, a composite major, or dual major are required.

Bachelor of Arts

This degree includes study in a foreign language which may be met by one of the following:

1. A minimum of 16 semester credit hours in one (1) foreign language.
2. Documentation of language proficiency through an examination administered by the Department of Languages and Philosophy  or through an examination by a recognized testing agency.
3. Students for whom English is a second language may meet the BA foreign language requirement by verifying their proficiency in their (non-English) native language in cooperation with the Department of Languages and Philosophy and verifying their proficiency in English as a second language by either passing an ESL exit test or passing the ESL special examination.
4. Documentation of a minimum proficiency level in American Sign Language through an examination administered by any accredited institution of higher education. The signer must produce and maintain American Sign Language with continuity and precision.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts at SUU provides a conservatory-style experience that places emphasis on developing technique and mastery of the student’s craft. For specific admissions and program requirements, please refer to the Department of Filmmaking, Art, and Design  and Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration  in this catalog.

Bachelor of General Studies

The Bachelor of General Studies is designed as a “completer” degree to allow for a clear route to earning a bachelor’s degree via 100% online delivery. Any student admitted to SUU’s Speedway Campus is eligible to declare the Bachelor of General Studies degree program; there are no specific admission requirements. For specific program requirements, please refer to the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies  in this catalog.

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree consists of an individualized academic program that crosses diverse fields of study. The BIS allows students to develop, with directed faculty assistance and appropriate administrative approval, an individually tailored composite major which is interdisciplinary and which is not currently an approved major at SUU. The BIS degree emphasizes creativity, interdisciplinarity, and new approaches to traditional subjects. Once admitted to the program, students work with the BIS Coordinator or the Interdisciplinary Studies Department Chair to plan and organize the student’s proposed composite major which will constitute the Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The proposed outline should be submitted as early as possible in the student’s undergraduate career and must include all courses which are to constitute the Interdisciplinary Studies major, in accordance with both BIS and SUU requirements. For specific admissions and program requirements, please refer to the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies  in this catalog.

Bachelor of Music

The Bachelor of Music at SUU provides a conservatory-style experience that places emphasis on developing technique and mastery of the student’s craft. The Bachelor of Music in Music Education prepares students to teach music in the K-12 system in the State of Utah. For specific admissions and program requirements, please refer to the Department of Music  in this catalog.

Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Science in Nursing

These degrees include successful completion of 12 credit hours in mathematics or science that emphasize scientific inquiry through experimental, analytical, or statistical methods. These credits may include the completion of MATH 1010 (MATH 1010 will not count toward a General Education requirement). Electives, General Education , or required courses in the major or minor may also satisfy this requirement. The additional science/math requirement for the BS degree may be met by successfully completing courses in the following subjects and/or individual courses:

Subjects

• Agriculture (AGSC)
• Biology (BIOL)
• Chemistry (CHEM)
• Computer Science & Cybersecurity (CS, CSCY, CYBR)
• Engineering (ENGR)
• Environmental Studies (ENVS)
• Geology (GEO)
• Mathematics (MATH)
• Natural Resources (NR)
• Nutrition and Food Science (NFS)
• Physics and Astronomy (PHYS)
• Range Management (RANG)
• Science (SCI, except SCI 2120)

Individual Courses

• EET 1600 - Robotics and Automation I  
• GEOG 1000 - Earth’s Natural Environments: Physical Geography  & GEOG 1005 - Earth’s Natural Environments: Physical Geography Lab  
• KIN 2010 - Medical Terminology  
• KIN 3060 - Sport and Exercise Biomechanics  

For specific admissions and program requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, please refer to the Department of Nursing  in this catalog.

Bachelor of Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work at SUU is a professional degree that prepares students to pass the Utah exam for the Social Service Worker’s license, which is required for many social services jobs. Students will have the skills, knowledge, and competencies to work with individuals and families in a variety of social service careers. They will also have the foundational knowledge to be accepted into a Master of Social Work degree program that prepares students to be licensed as social workers and clinicians. For specific admissions and program requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work, please refer to the Department of Family Life and Human Development  in this catalog.

Certificates

Academic Certificate

An undergraduate academic certificate must offer an appropriate breadth, depth, sequencing, and synthesis of learning. An academic certificate must reflect a structured program and may not simply indicate the completion of a minimum number of credits. If focused on a professional specialty enhancing a degree, an academic certificate should incorporate appropriate licensure requirements. It does not require, but may include, General Education courses. The certificate requires a minimum of 9 to a maximum of 36 semester credit hours.

Institutional Certificate

Institutional certificates can be offered for either non-credit or for-credit. For-credit certificates typically require between 12 to 18 credits (not to exceed 29 credit hours maximum), and courses may be selected from the undergraduate level (including below 1000-level courses), graduate level, or 5000-level. Non-credit certificates should require an investment of time and effort by the participant appropriate to the subject matter (no more than 900 clock hours). For both non-credit and for-credit institutional certificates, an outside agency’s curriculum is acceptable as long as the appropriate dean has reviewed the curriculum and approved it.

Institutional certificate coursework will be documented on a “continuing education” transcript; upon completion of the certificate, this continuing education transcript will include the name of the specific institutional certificate the student has earned. Institutional certificates are not eligible for federal financial aid as a stand-alone credential. Institutional certificates are available through their individual sponsoring departments.

Requirements for a Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree must complete the following criteria:

1. The first baccalaureate degree must have been previously conferred by an accredited or otherwise recognized foreign college or university. For further information refer to Policy 6.47.
2. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned from SUU. The requirements of the major associated with the second baccalaureate degree may be fulfilled by a combination of previous coursework and the required additional 30 credits.
3. A minor may be required for a second baccalaureate degree as specified by the major department.
4. Additionally:
   • Foreign Language Requirement: If the first degree is not a Bachelor of Arts degree but the second baccalaureate degree is a Bachelor of Arts, the current SUU foreign language requirement must be met by some combination of courses taken as part of the first baccalaureate degree and/or courses taken in conjunction with the second degree.
   • Science Requirement: If the first degree is not a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree but the second baccalaureate degree is a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the current SUU science requirement must be met by some combination of courses taken as part of the first baccalaureate degree and/or courses taken in conjunction with the second degree.
5. The General Education requirements associated with the second baccalaureate degree shall be considered satisfied if the first baccalaureate degree was conferred by an accredited or otherwise recognized foreign college or university. However, all students must still complete the General Education American Institutions requirement if they do not have a qualifying course as part of their previous coursework.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

​Academic Major

All baccalaureate degrees must be awarded with a major. Minimum requirements are 30 credit hours in the major. Major requirements are listed under department headings which should be consulted for detailed guidelines. Students seeking an emphasis (a minimum of 12 distinct credits within the major) within a degree will be required to complete all coursework appropriate to the emphasis, as directed by the department head. Composite majors require a minimum of 52 credit hours.

Double Major

A double major may be awarded to students pursuing two (2) different undergraduate majors simultaneously within the same degree type (e.g., Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). A student seeking a double major will be required to meet all the coursework requirements and meet the total cumulative number of hours in terms of upper-division, total number of hours for residency, total number of hours for graduation, and possess a minimum of 60 unduplicated credit hours in the double major. One (1) diploma listing both undergraduate majors will be awarded. The General Studies (BA/BS)  program is a stand-alone credential and may not be combined with another undergraduate major for a double major.

Dual Degree

A dual degree may be awarded to students pursuing two (2) different undergraduate majors simultaneously that fall under two different degree types (e.g., a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science). A student seeking a dual degree will be required to meet all the coursework requirements and meet the total cumulative number of hours in terms of upper-division, total number of hours for residency, total number of hours for graduation, and possess a minimum of 60 unduplicated credit hours in the dual degree. Two (2) individual diplomas listing each undergraduate major will be awarded. The General Studies (BGS)  and Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS)  programs are stand-alone credentials and may not be combined with another undergraduate major for a dual degree.

Academic Minor

Many undergraduate degree-granting programs authorized by the University offer a formal minor. A minimum of 16 credits is required. Minor requirements are listed under department headings which should be consulted for detailed guidelines. A minor may only be earned in conjunction with a baccalaureate degree and awarded at the same time as the academic major; a minor cannot be added after the undergraduate degree has been awarded.

Declaring/Changing a Major or Minor

Students are asked to select a major during their application process to the University. Undecided students are placed in a pre-major called “Exploratory Studies.” Students are encouraged to declare a major by the time the student has completed 60 semester credit hours.

Students may change their major or minor at any time by working with a Student Success Advisor for the new desired program. Some programs require a formal admittance process in addition to being generally admitted to the University.

Graduation Exercises

To be eligible for graduation at the end of a given semester a student must:

• Submit the online graduation application through mySUU portal by the appropriate deadline.
• Receive approval for any transfer work to be applied to their program of study.

Students are held responsible for meeting all academic regulations and program requirements. All degree candidates are encouraged to attend graduation exercises.

Caps and gowns are required for all graduates participating in Commencement exercises and should be ordered through mySUU portal before February 1st. Students who will complete their program requirements during the Summer or Fall semester may elect to participate in the commencement exercises of the current or the following year. Additional information is available online.

Individualized Study

Any academic department may offer Individualized Study. Individual study is a delivery mode for courses listed in the official catalog that are needed for a student’s progress toward graduation. If a student needs a course for graduation, and a scheduling or other conflict necessitates that the student completes the course through individualized study, the student will obtain a learning contract from the appropriate department. Additional course fees may apply.

Residency Hour Requirements

Associate’s Degree

Candidates for an associate’s degree must complete a minimum of 24 credits from SUU. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits, and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for resident hours.

Bachelor’s Degree

Candidates for a bachelor’s degree must complete at least 30 credits from SUU. A minimum of 20 of these credits must be completed in upper-division courses, of which at least 10 credits must be competed in courses required by the student’s major. Each major may have residency requirements in addition to SUU requirements.

Certificates

Candidates for an Academic Certificate must complete a minimum of 9 credits from SUU. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits, and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for resident hours.

Note: Students who wish to recieve the Academic Certificate in General Education do not need to complete a minimum number of credits from SUU.

Special Recognition of Academic Achievement

Faculty place a high value on the academic accomplishments of students. The University’s academic reputation and its stature in the community of universities are tied inextricably to the scholastic achievements of its students. The University’s rich and extensive resources provide a foundation of support for the realization of this goal. The University’s scholarly and dedicated faculty strive to challenge students’ intellectual development and their achievement of excellence.

The University community believes that student efforts in the attainment of high levels of scholarship deserve appropriate recognition. The University community officially acknowledges their achievement through the following methods:

Academic Convocation

Each college/school holds a recognition evening during the Spring. These are events that provide time and positive recognition for those academic achievement awards honoring the students, parents, family members, and friends.

Deans’ List

The Deans’ List is a roster of undergraduate students who have received very high grades during a particular semester of full-time enrollment. To be included in the Deans’ List, students must meet both of the following criteria:

• Complete 15 or more credit hours in a given semester, excluding classes graded Pass/Fail. Courses numbered below 1000 do not count toward the 15 credits.
• Attain a semester grade-point average (GPA) of 3.6 or higher.

Honors Program

The Honors Program provides enrichment opportunities for exceptionally talented, creative, and academically committed students. See Honors Program  for more information.

Upper-Division Requirement for Bachelor’s Degree

Of the minimum total hours, 40 semester hours must be in upper-division courses. Southern Utah University upper-division courses are numbered 3000-4999. Credit taken as lower-division at another institution will not count toward upper-division hours at SUU.

A minimum of 20 credits must be completed at Southern Utah University in upper-division courses, of which at least 10 credits must be completed in courses required by the student’s major. Individual programs may have higher requirements than these minimums.